2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Benue State

The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Benue State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Benue State, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections will coincide with the 2023 presidential election, as well as other elections to the Senate and elections to the House of Representatives; with state elections being held two weeks later. Primaries were held between 4 April and 9 June 2022.

2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Benue State
25 February 2023

All 3 Benue State seats in the Senate of Nigeria
  Majority party
 
Party PDP
Last election 3
Seats before 3

     PDP incumbent retiring
     PDP incumbent running for re-election

Background

In the previous Senate elections, none of the three incumbent senators were returned, with longtime Senator David Mark (PDP-South) retiring whilst Barnabas Andyar Gemade (SDP-North-East) and George Akume (APC-North-West) were defeated in their re-election bids. In the South district, Patrick Abba Moro retained the seat for the PDP with 49% of the vote; the PDP gained the other two seats as Gabriel Suswam unseated Gemade with 53% in the North-East while Akume was defeated in the North-West by Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev with 57% of the vote. These results were a part of a wider shift back towards the PDP in Benue as PDP presidential nominee Atiku Abubakar narrowly won the state after Buhari had won it in 2015 and the PDP won seven House of Representatives seats. Similarly, Governor Samuel Ortom (PDP) won re-election by over 10% and the PDP won a majority in the House of Assembly.

Overview

Affiliation Party Total
PDP APC
Previous Election 3 0 3
Before Election 3 0 3
After Election 1 2 3

Summary

District Incumbent Results
Incumbent Party Status Candidates
Benue North-East Gabriel Suswam PDP Incumbent lost re-election
New member elected
APC gain
Benue North-West Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev PDP Incumbent retired
New member elected
APC gain
Benue South Patrick Abba Moro PDP Incumbent re-elected

Benue North-East

2023 Benue North-East Senatorial District election
25 February 2023
 
Nominee Emmanuel Memga Udende Torngee Malu Gabriel Suswam
Party APC LP PDP

Senator before election

Gabriel Suswam
PDP

Elected Senator

To be determined
To be determined

The Benue North-East Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Katsina-Ala, Konshisha, Kwande, Logo, Vandeikya, Ukum, and Ushongo. The district is often referred to as "Zone A" and is also noted for its ethnic Tiv majority. The incumbent Gabriel Suswam (PDP), who was elected with 52.6% of the vote in 2019, is seeking re-election.

All Progressives Congress

On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for senatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦3 million and nomination form price at ₦17 million with a 50% discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms were to be sold from 26 April to 6 May until the deadline was later extended to 10 May then 12 May.[7] After the submission of nomination forms by 13 May, candidates were screened by a party committee on 14 and 15 May while 18 May was the date for the screening appeal process.[8] Ward congresses and LGA congresses were set for 16 and 17 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 27 May, in concurrence with other APC senatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made on 28 May.[9][10][11][12]

On the primary date, seven candidates contested a direct primary that ended with Emmanuel Memga Udende—former MHR for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo—winning the nomination after results showed him defeating Terlumun Akputu by a 40% margin.[13]

APC primary results[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Emmanuel Memga Udende 211,887 66.80%
APC Terlumun Akputu 84,304 26.57%
APC Torngee Malu 16,139 5.09%
APC Andrew Ayabam 1,934 0.61%
APC Helen Atom 1,557 0.49%
APC Sam Zuga 1,078 0.34%
APC Manasseh Denga 304 0.10%
Total votes 317,203 100.00%

People's Democratic Party

On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its senatorial primary timetable, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates were screened by a party committee on 27 April while 2 May was the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses were set for 29 April and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary.[14] Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 23 May, in concurrence with other PDP senatorial primaries but due to often violently enforced Monday stay-at-home orders by separatists, southeastern state parties held their primaries on 24 May;[15] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[16][17][18][19]

On the primary date, an indirect primary ended with Suswam's renomination as he was unopposed.[20]

Campaign

In December 2022, reporting from The Punch stated that while Udende and Suswam were the two frontrunners, Torngee Malu (LP) could obtain a significant share of the vote total.[21]

Results

2023 Benue North-East Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
AA Sam Zuga
ADP Kwamanda Kwamande
ADC Demian Jiraji
APC Emmanuel Memga Udende
APGA Williams Iyorwuese Ligom
LP Torngee Malu
NRM Kaor Sesugh Titus
NNPP Samuel Shangev-De Adzango
PRP Andrew Aondoaseer Isho
PDP Gabriel Suswam
SDP Martin Msughter Iorsamber
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Benue North-West

2023 Benue North-West Senatorial District election
25 February 2023
 
Nominee Titus Zam Mark Gbillah Samuel Ortom
Party APC LP PDP

Senator before election

Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev
PDP

Elected Senator

To be determined
To be determined

The Benue North-West Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Buruku, Gboko, Gwer East, Gwer West, Guma, Makurdi, and Tarka. The district is often referred to as "Zone B" and is also noted for its ethnic Tiv majority. The incumbent Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev (PDP), who was elected with 56.5% of the vote in 2019, is retiring from the Senate.

All Progressives Congress

On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for senatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦3 million and nomination form price at ₦17 million with a 50% discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms were to be sold from 26 April to 6 May until the deadline was later extended to 10 May then 12 May.[7] After the submission of nomination forms by 13 May, candidates were screened by a party committee on 14 and 15 May while 18 May was the date for the screening appeal process.[8] Ward congresses and LGA congresses were set for 16 and 17 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 27 May, in concurrence with other APC senatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made on 28 May.[9][10][11][12]

On 30 May, a direct primary that ended with Titus Zam defeating two other candidates in a landslide.

APC primary results[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Titus Zam 147,151 91.86%
APC Dave Awunah 6,821 4.26%
APC Benjamin Adanyih 6,209 3.88%
Total votes 160,181 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 N/A
Turnout 160,181 69.69%

People's Democratic Party

On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its senatorial primary timetable, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates were screened by a party committee on 27 April while 2 May was the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses were set for 29 April and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary.[14] Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 23 May, in concurrence with other PDP senatorial primaries but due to often violently enforced Monday stay-at-home orders by separatists, southeastern state parties held their primaries on 24 May;[23] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[16][17][18][24]

Weeks before the primary, Orker-Jev declined to run for re-election in favour of outgoing Governor Samuel Ortom's senatorial ambition. On the primary date, Ortom was nominated unopposed at the venue in Makurdi. After the vote, Ortom thanked the people of the district and pledged to continue good representation.[25][20]

Campaign

In review of the campaign in December 2022, reporting from The Nation observed regional elements to the election as Ortom's feud with PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu reflected on their native communities as Ortom is a Jemgba Tiv while Ayu is a Minda Tiv. Another key factor noted was the ability of Ortom to use the power of his state government to help campaigning.[26] In a piece later that month from The Punch, reporting indicated that Ortom had met with several Minda Tiv community leaders to gain their support while Zam had been hindered by the rising candidacy of Mark Gbillah (LP)—a MHR who, like Zam, originates from Gwer West LGA.[21] A piece from The Africa Report in January also noted regional sentiments and Gwer West vote splitting but focused more so on the Ortom versus former Governor George Akume dynamic. An analyst claimed "Zam is Akume's candidate" and thus the election was labeled effectively a contest between Ortom and Akume.[27]

In the fortnight prior to the election, the election came to national attention when Ortom endorsed Peter Obi in the presidential election on 17 February 2023.[28] While it was notable as he became the first incumbent governor to endorse Obi, in terms of the senatorial election, Ortom became in danger of internal PDP sanction due to the endorsement. Despite this threat, Ortom claimed that he was "sacrifice [his] senatorial ambition" for Obi's campaign.[29] Pundits noted the oddity of Ortom endorsing Obi while competing against Gbillah in addition to the rising popularity of APC gubernatorial nominee Hyacinth Alia.[30]

Results

2023 Benue North-West Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
ADP John Bosco Tyozenda
ADC Celestine Orbunde
APC Titus Zam
APGA Orahii Tertsea
LP Mark Gbillah
NNPP Aondoaver Francis Ako
PRP Godwin Terna Tile
PDP Samuel Ortom
SDP John Bosco Maria Tyozenda
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Benue South

2023 Benue South Senatorial District election
25 February 2023
 
Nominee Daniel Onjeh Joseph Ojobo Patrick Abba Moro
Party APC LP PDP

Senator before election

Patrick Abba Moro
PDP

Elected Senator

To be determined
To be determined

The Benue South Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Ado, Agatu, Apa, Obi, Ogbadibo, Ohimini, Oju, Okpokwu, and Otukpo. The district is often referred to as "Zone C" and is also noted for its population of predominantly ethnic Idoma and Igede peoples. The incumbent Patrick Abba Moro (PDP), who was elected with 48.6% of the vote in 2019, is seeking re-election.

All Progressives Congress

On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for senatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦3 million and nomination form price at ₦17 million with a 50% discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms were to be sold from 26 April to 6 May until the deadline was later extended to 10 May then 12 May.[7] After the submission of nomination forms by 13 May, candidates were screened by a party committee on 14 and 15 May while 18 May was the date for the screening appeal process.[8] Ward congresses and LGA congresses were set for 16 and 17 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 27 May, in concurrence with other APC senatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made on 28 May.[9][10][11][12]

On 30 May, a direct primary that ended with activist Daniel Onjeh defeating four candidates in a landslide. In Onjeh's acceptance speech, he called on the party to unite behind him as its nominee.[22][31]

APC primary results[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Daniel Onjeh 127,090 95.77%
APC Austin Oleho 2,917 2.20%
APC Nelson Alapa 1,313 0.99%
APC Jacob Ajene 1,016 0.77%
APC Ejeh Joseph Ekwote 364 0.27%
Total votes 132,700 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 N/A
Turnout 132,700 66.50%

People's Democratic Party

On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its senatorial primary timetable, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates were screened by a party committee on 27 April while 2 May was the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses were set for 29 April and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary.[14] Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 23 May, in concurrence with other PDP senatorial primaries but due to often violently enforced Monday stay-at-home orders by separatists, southeastern state parties held their primaries on 24 May;[32] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[16][17][18][33]

On May 28, four candidates contested an indirect primary that ended with Moro winning renomination after results showed him defeating Hassan Anthony Saleh by a significant margin.[34]

PDP primary results[34]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Patrick Abba Moro 179 58.31%
PDP Hassan Anthony Saleh 72 23.45%
PDP Joseph Ojobo 53 17.26%
PDP Bright Ogaji 3 0.98%
Total votes 307 100.00%

Campaign

In a December 2022 campaign analysis article, The Punch labeled Moro as the frontrunner while Onjeh and Joseph Ojobo (LP) were noted as other major candidates.[21]

Results

2023 Benue South Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
ADP Anne Enye Adegbe
ADC Ujah Matthew Onoja
APC Daniel Onjeh
APGA Madaki Jerry Omakwu
LP Joseph Ojobo
NNPP Isaac Jerome Idu
PRP Iyah Iyah
PDP Patrick Abba Moro
SDP Itodo F. Idoko
ZLP Simon Ocheme Ogbe
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

See also

References

  1. Torough, David (6 June 2022). "2022: Ex-Lawmaker, Udende Clinches Zone 'A' Senate Ticket in Benue". Daily Asset Newspaper. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  2. Adenekan, Samson. "Download: Full List of 2023 Presidential, Vice Presidential, NASS candidates". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  3. Duru, Peter. "PDP Primaries: 3 Benue Reps Members fail to secure party's ticket; Ortom, Suswam successful". Vanguard. Retrieved 25 May 2022. Meanwhile, both Governor Samuel Ortom and incumbent Senator Gabriel Suswam also secured the tickets of the party to represent Benue North West and Benue North-East Senatorial Districts respectively.
  4. Charles, John (24 May 2022). "Ortom picks PDP senatorial ticket unopposed". The Punch. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  5. "Daniel Onjeh gets APC senatorial ticket for Benue South". Peoples Gazette. News Agency of Nigeria. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  6. Opejobi, Seun (24 May 2022). "Benue primaries: Abba Moro wins PDP senatorial ticket in Zone C". Daily Post. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  7. Odunsi, Wale. "2023: APC extends sale of forms, fixes dates to elect delegates". Daily Post. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  8. Nseyen, Nsikak. "2023: APC fixes new date for governorship primaries, others". Daily Post. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  9. Majeed, Bakare (20 April 2022). "UPDATED: 2023: APC fixes presidential forms for N100 million, adopts indirect primaries". Premium Times. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  10. Angbulu, Stephen; Ayeni, Victor; Dada, Peter; Naku, Dennis; Ede, Raphael (21 April 2022). "Presidential primary: APC silent on zoning, Nigerians condemn N100m nomination fee". The Punch. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  11. APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (May 11, 2022). "NEW DATES" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2022 via Twitter.
  12. APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (May 18, 2022). "ADJUSTED TIMETABLE" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 May 2022 via Twitter.
  13. Torough, David. "2022: Ex-Lawmaker, Udende Clinches Zone 'A' Senate Ticket in Benue". Daily Asset Newspaper. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  14. Angbulu, Stephen (21 April 2022). "2023: PDP extends sale of forms for fourth time". The Punch. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  15. "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  16. Yakubu, Dirisu (16 March 2022). "[BREAKING] 2023: PDP Presidential primary holds in May". Vanguard. Abuja. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  17. Akpan, Samuel (17 March 2022). "2023: PDP releases pre-election schedule, fixes presidential primary poll for May 28". TheCable. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  18. Official PDP Nigeria [@OfficialPDPNig] (May 5, 2022). "2023 General Elections: @OfficialPDPNig updated Time Table and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general elections. See below" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 May 2022 via Twitter.
  19. Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  20. Duru, Peter. "PDP Primaries: 3 Benue Reps Members fail to secure party's ticket; Ortom, Suswam successful". Vanguard. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  21. Charles, John. "Ortom, Suswam, Moro, others battle for Benue senatorial seats". The Punch. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  22. "Daniel Onjeh gets APC senatorial ticket for Benue South". Peoples Gazette. News Agency of Nigeria. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  23. "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  24. Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  25. Opejobi, Seun. "Benue PDP primaries: Gov Ortom wins senatorial ticket". Daily Post. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  26. Onogu, Sanni; Duku, Joel; Ihyongo, Fanen; Shittu, Sola; Rufa’i, Ahmed; Alabelewe, Abdulgafar; Saidu, Khadijat; Adenuga, David; Emmanuel, Uja; Asishana, Justina; Alao, Onimisi; Adeyemi, Kolade; Okezie, Augustine; Oota, Linus; Jimoh, Adekunle (11 December 2022). "Senate races to watch (2)". The Nation. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  27. Ezeamalu, Ben. "Nigeria 2023: Six key battleground districts to watch during the Senatorial election". The Africa Report. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  28. Ejekwonyilo, Ameh. "Gov Ortom unveils Peter Obi as preferred presidential candidate". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  29. Ukpong, Cletus. "Gov Ortom willing to sacrifice senatorial ambition for Peter Obi to become president". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  30. Seye, Abdul. "Senate Race: 28 serving, ex-governors in race to 10th Senate". Daily Post. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  31. "TEXT OF MY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH As THE 2023 CANDIDATE OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) FOR BENUE ZONE 'C', FOLLOWING MY VICTORY AT THE APC SENATORIAL PRIMARY ELECTION HELD ON 28TH MAY, 2022". Facebook. Daniel Onjeh. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  32. "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  33. Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  34. Opejobi, Seun. "Benue primaries: Abba Moro wins PDP senatorial ticket in Zone C". Daily Post. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
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